Taliban said that they would carry out more attacks because peace talks have yet to be officially proposed. PHOTO: REUTERS
The announcement came two days after two senior military officers were killed by a Taliban bomb in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the military is fighting al-Qaeda and Taliban-led militants.
"War is continuing, it was started by the government and they will have to stop it," Shahidullah Shahid, main spokesperson for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told AFP on Tuesday from an undisclosed location.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who took office after winning elections in May, has called for peace talks and last week won backing from main political parties.
But hopes that the talks would go ahead were dealt a blow when a Taliban bomb on Sunday killed three soldiers including a major-general.
Analysts said the attack endangered the proposed peace talks with the insurgent group.
Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Monday said militants would not be allowed to take advantage of the peace talks offer.
But the Taliban said that they would carry out more attacks because peace talks have yet to be officially proposed.
"No one has contacted us for peace talks, not even a tribal jirga has approached us. If they (government) want to end this war, they will have to announce a ceasefire," Shahid said.
The Taliban on Sunday announced preconditions for talks on ending the insurgency that has killed thousands of people, demanding that troops withdraw from tribal areas and that prisoners are freed.
But Pakistan's military on Sunday insisted they would not let Taliban rebels set conditions for peace talks.
When the TTP spokesperson was asked about his group's future plans after the attack which killed the officers, he said: "We will never miss any opportunity to attack the army like that."
Previous peace deals with the Taliban have quickly broken down and been sharply criticised for allowing the extremists time to regroup for fresh attacks.
Pakistan says more than 40,000 people have been killed in bomb and suicide attacks staged by the Taliban and al-Qaeda-led militants who oppose Islamabad's US alliance.
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@Abid P. Khan: Lol khan paaji. Take care
@csmann: "@Abid P. Khan: It in indeed pathetic when Muslims buy such weapons from third parties to kill other Muslims." . Will it make you any happier if they were being killed by weapons saying, This Weapon Was Supplied to you With Thanks from The Islamic Emirate of Islamistan?
@numbersnumbers: "WOW, you say “It sit he Brits who manufactured it” (Sarin Gas)!!!..." . Please adopt the habit of reading newspapers and improve your retaining habits.
@Abid P. Khan: WOW, you say "It sit he Brits who manufactured it" (Sarin Gas)!!! Pleeeeeze tell us how you know that and provide all of us credible references so we can look it up!!!!! BTW, also tell us how you know that the US supplied it (Sarin gas) to Iraq,or we may all have to believe that you are just making this stuff up!
@Abid P. Khan: It in indeed pathetic when Muslims buy such weapons from third parties to kill other Muslims.
@Altaf Ahmad: "get some of that Sarin Gas from Syria & use it on them…." . Syrians are charged only with having used Sarin. It is the Brits who manufactured it. Or if you want to buy now, US is a good possibility. They were suppliers to the Iraqis.
@Kaleem: "Wish I could gun down five beasts standing in this pic." . Which of the five? You don't want to hurt Immy, do you?
Show me a war that the Army has taken and won. Answer: None. That is the reason for the to hide behind Civilian govt. The army itself is infested with TTP supporers
avg Paki: IK bhai IK bhai.... They ve killed a maj. General... IK: No issues betey...let them kill one more... we have many.. what we don't ve yet is peace talks with them
The only business held by TTP in tribal belts is to carry war n thats why didnt seem serious in peace talks.
@M. Emad:
Who trained them?- Well.. Er.., Ahem... Why don't you ask another question?
Are they out of control now?- No, just a little impatient, perhaps.
Do they have any future use?- Yes, 2014 is around the corner. And 'shah rag' is yet to be won.
This is what General Kayani said a couple of days ago: "While it is understandable to give peace a chance through a political process…no one should have any misgivings that we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their terms.(The) Army has the ability and the will to take the fight to the terrorists.” We fully support the government of Pakistan in its efforts to negate the threat of terrorism. We have a common responsibility of safeguarding our homeland and protecting our citizens from these terrorists. Our common sacrifices in the region prove our stance against terrorism. We will not bow down to those who are working against our peace objectives in the region, and pose a threat to the safety of our nations.
Ali Khan DET, United States Central Command
@Kaleem: they are 6 and u have to wear a suicide jacket, if u hv the courage.
Silence is criminal on this issue. The Army should go ahead with an all out war with these illegitimate sons of God knows who. Politicians are in bed with them.
@Amr: You Seriously think if army was fighting full out for 10 years these people would easily be pictured up there?! Army has not been 'fighting' for 10 years. They started fighting post 2008 and we know wht happened then. Who cleared Swat, Tribal agencies, malakand again? Stop being brainwashed by PTI Brigade. Our Pakistan army has done great in defeating the terrorists. Just 1 final blow is needed in North Waziristan.
It seems our Army has started to give up. They want the civilian government to take the initiative in KP, while in other areas, they give a damn to the government. Who has prevented our Army to take down these cowards using all the modern armaments that our Army has got? I must sadly say, there are clear signs that our army is losing its courage, because they are in a war that has not yielded any success since last 10 years. That's like an insult to our Army. For God's sake, please start an all out attack.
Im curious to hear from IK and his regime. What do they say NOW??!!!
get some of that Sarin Gas from Syria & use it on them....
Probably Pakistan is the only country in the world where government acts as apologists for the killers of its serving General.
@Amr:
You mean Army is no good? Why are we spending so much on Punjabi Army then?
It seems Pakistani Talibans are well trained - heads of several generals in their bag. On the other hand Pakistan is begging for peace talk.
Who created these groups at beginning and for what reason?
Who trained them?
Are they out of control now?
Do they have any future use?
Musharraf was a kool dude, I remember his dialogue "Kaha say ek roshni aye gi pata bhi nahi chalay ga" Yehee karna chahye in k saath.
Talibans are a evil bunch people. The war and guns are only thing they know and is their livelihood. How will they survive if there is peace. That is why india says to disassemble all extremist groups. Thiese who you can control today will get out of hand tomorrow. Please ponder on what we are saying. Rab rakha
They are right the war is 'on' and the other side should realise it as well.
Pakistan army is too much worried about taliban than viceversa.They afraid to catch any of these beast.
Nuke Them!!!!
@Mohammad: The army is fighting in these areas for the last 10 years already. What other go ahead do they need?
Why they have covered their face . I doubt , they must be Indian .
Go hunt them down boys
Wish I could gun down five beasts standing in this pic.
Hello! IK are you listening.
and our politicians are so keen to negotiate these terrorists....! we have one of the finest Army.. give them go ahead to wipe these Taliban out.